Endodontics in North & South Carolina
If you have an injured tooth it is important to know and get treatment at an early stage. Most people today suffer with a decayed tooth for a long period before they seek treatment.
Understanding that most of these infections can be well treated by endodontics is important. With proper care, most teeth that have had surgery or treatments can last for a long time and often for a lifetime.
What is Endodontics?
An endodontic treatment, also known as root canal treatment, is a dental procedure for removing an infection from inside a tooth. The treatment is carried out in the pulp of the tooth. This in turn protects the tooth from any future infections. An endodontic procedure also helps to maintain your smile, hence it is important to take care of your teeth.
Who Is An Endodontist and What Do They Treat?
Endodontists are specialist, committed to helping you treat your infected root canal while saving your teeth. They specialize in performing root canal treatment, diagnosing and treating tooth pain. They also deal with other procedures relating to the interior of the tooth. This is because their additional two years of dental training enables them to become experts in this field.
Endodontists are efficient and precise at their work. They also use state of the art technology to treat you quickly and comfortably. These instruments may include:
- Digital imaging
- Ultrasonic instrumentation
- Fiber optics
- Operating microscopes
Who Needs Endodontic Treatment?
If bacteria has entered your pulp due to trauma, deep decay, cracks, gum disease or repeated dental procedure then you might need an endodontic treatment. This can go hand in hand with symptoms such as:
- Tooth sensitivity to extreme temperature
- Having discomfort/tenderness while eating
- Injury and pain to the tooth
- Swelling in the tooth and gums
The purpose of the treatment will be to remove the infection and the damaged tissue from inside the tooth, hence saving it and restoring it to its good health.
Procedures During Endodontic Treatment
What are the different steps you should expect during an endodontic procedure?
- Treatment discussion – When you visit our endodontist we will examine you and discuss with you your treatment options.
- Examination of teeth – Our endodontist will examine your tooth and take a radiograph to gain access to the root canal filling material. Next local anesthesia may be used which helps reduce discomfort and nubs the tooth. With complex restorative materials, the crown, core and post material must be disassembled and removed to permit easy access to the root canals. Additionally a dental dam is placed to keep the tooth free from saliva during the procedure.
- Cleans the canal – We use instruments such as files and disinfectant to clean the tooth and shape the space for filling. We also use magnification and illumination tools to search for any unusual anatomy or additional canal that may require treatment.
- Filling placed – After the cleaning is done we will fill and seal the canal by placing a filling in the tooth. In most cases a temporal filling is placed first and later you will return and have the crown placed on the tooth. However, if the canals are blocked or narrow, a surgery may be recommended. This involves making an incision to the tooth allowing the other end of the root to be sealed.
What are required Post Procedures?
Once our endodontist completes re-treatment, you will be given prescribed medicine to help with the pain. You will also be requested to go easy on hard foods as the tooth recovers.
If a temporary filling was done you will be required to come back and see us as soon as possible. This will involve placing a new crown or other restoration on the tooth to protect and restore it to its full function.
Conclusion
If you have an injured or diseased root canal, an endodontic treatment will be required to save the tooth. At Friendly Dental Group we have highly qualified endodontists that will look at all treatment options and determine the best option for you.
Book an appointment with us today!